Centrifugal pump



G. H. ELMORE.

C ENTRIFUGAL PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8. I9Ia.

Patented May 30, 1922.

akku umg To all 'whom t may concern,.-

PATENT OFFICE.

- GUY E. ELMORE, F lSWALB'THlIOIBEl, PENNSYLVANIA.

` enN'rBIrUeen'ruimte.v

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented hIay 30, 1922.

Application filed August 8, 1918. Serial No. 248,912.

Be it. known that I, GUY H. ELMoRIi, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swarthmore, in the county of ADelaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer-l tain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to corrosion-resistant pumps, and consists in aV novel selection and arrangement of substances whereby those portions of the pump which under ordinary construction would be subject to injury or destruction by corrosive liquids or solutions handled by it, are protected or rendered immune to such action.

. The preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

. Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the pump, partly in the plane of its central, axis and partly to one side thereof;

Fig. 2, an end elevation of the same, partly in section.

The invention is here illustrated as embodied in a pump ofthe centrifugal or impeller type, and in its'general design resembles other centrifugal or impeller pumps against corrosion and the action of chemical agents, those parts which under prior constructions have been attacked and rapidly eaten away or destroyed thereby.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the main frame of the piunp, comprising a base and two pedestals or pillow blocks 2 and 3, which carry the journal bearings of the main drive shaft 4 and one of the housing members 5'L of the impeller chamber. Between the housing member 5 and a companion housing plate or member '6, both of which are annularly flanged, is the volute chamber 7 in which rotates the impeller. This chamber is formed one-half in each of two similar lining members 8 and 9, clamped between the housing members 5 and 6, said members being firmly drawn against.- the interposedl liners by heavy bolts 13 arranged at or near their circumference.

The chamber 7 is provided with an intake 10 and a discharge nozzle 11, said nozzle being here-shown extending vertically, above and in line with the axis of the shaft 4, but it may obviously be turned to any other angular position about said axis. Between the linerl members 8 and 9 is interposed'a gasket 12 of corrosion-resistant material, as wood, asbestos, or4 the like, in orderfto insure a 60 liquid-tightI joint, and to prevent any crushing or other injury to the liner members in tightening the bolts 13. The liner members 8 and 9 may be of porcelain, cement, glass,

or like substance unaffected by acids or other chemical agents, the composltion of the cement of the glass; if such be used, being variable to guard against injury by one or an-. other specific acid or agent, according to the use for which the pump is designed in any given instance.

By this construction of the volute chamber it may be accurately formed at relatively small expense, and in case of wear or injury t-he linings may be readily replaced. The

construction also admits of interchangeable linings, to produce chambers of varying dimensions-or capacity, according to requirements, without change of housings or other` parts. v

` 14 indicates the impeller or rotor, which comprises aV circular disk concentric with the axis of'shaft 4, provided on its outer 'face orl that toward the intake 10, with volute blades or vanes 15, and with a tubular 8 5 hub or neck 16 projecting from its opposite face. The open end of the hub or neck 16 is internally tapped or threaded to receive the correspondingly threaded end of shaft 4 and a jam-nut 17, by which the accidental 90 vunscrewing of the hub or neck from the shaft is prevented.' The open space within the neck 16 constitutes a lubricant chamber, which may be supplied with o1l. grease, or lubricant of any suitable character, which escapes through openings drilled or otherwise formed in the walls of the neck or hub. The rotor r impeller 14, including its blades or vanes, may be formed of an alloy known to the trade as Bario metal, though any alloy having like qualitiesmay be used.

Bario metal is extremely `hard and effectively resists wear, and I have found that it is also corrosion-resistant in a high degrec. This property peculiarly fits the alloy forluse in this and in other places about the pump, as hereinafter pointed out.

The hub or neck 16 is formed or furnished with a filling cup 18 having a'removable cap or plug to permit a proper supply of lubrlcant to be introduced into the interior of .50 centrifugal force generated by l the lrapid lubricant when' the impeller and its hub ro-Y tate inaction. The hub or neck 16 rotates in a bearing of special construction carried' by the housing plate 5, which latter is cast with a central eye to receive the bearing members, and the liner 9 is likewise formed with a central eye into which the bearing members extend. The bearing is made up of a hollow sleeve 19 of Bario metal, or other acid-resisting alloy one end of which is bored to lit closely about the neck or hub 16 of the rotor or impeller 14, near its rear face; and a bronze stuffing-box 20 extending into and closely fitting the 'sleeve 19, said stufling-box being formed with a radial flange about its mid-length and being internally threaded or tapped, as shown in Fig.

1. The internal diameter of the stuifingbox 20 is such as to leave between it and the hub or neck 16 a considerable annularspace,

annular members 21 and'22, the members 21 being of corrosion-resistant packing material and the members 22 being of Bario metal or other highly corrosion-resistant metal or alloy. These members 21 and 22 l are reverselyV taperedor beveled `in cross section, as shown in Fig, 1, the meeting faces belng parallel and assuring under the pressure to' which they are subjected, a firm` y close fit.

j Screwing into the threaded end of the stuffing-box 20 is a babbitt-lined bronze stuff'- ing-box gland or follower 23, the forward or inner end of which is beveled to bear uniformly against the Bario metal or like l give the requisite pressure upon the metallic packing rings, and compression of the packing lnterposed between the respective'rirfgs and between the innermost ring' and the end of the sleeve 19. The packing .thus constructed `and applied leaves merely a running fit between the hub or neck 16 and the bearing, to which bearingV lubricant is supplied from within the hub or neck 16. The

rotation -of the impeller 14 andits hub or neck 16 serves to force the' lubricant outward, and to properly supply the contacting faces of the hub or neck and the bearing, but permits little or no lubricant, to escape from the bearing. -v

Between the walls of the central eye of the liner 9 and the sleeve 19 is placed a packing 30, preferably of asbestos or like corro..

sion-resistant material. By this construction escape of liquid, whether free acid, acidcontaining, or other corrosive liquid, from the impeller chamber to the frame casting or to the hub or neck 16 and the parts c on-` Y working about the pump, but which may 130.

nected therewith, is efectually prevented. Owing to the use of the Bario metal or other corrosion-resistantmetal or alloy, and the corrosion-resistantpacking, no injury will be done to the rotor, its sleeve, or the bearing in which said hub or sleeve rotates.

L As shown in Fig. 1, the sleeve 19 is Aformed with a radial flange at its open end, which iange is seated in a recess or rabbet formed in the housing plate 5, and the stuffing-box.

20 is forced into and held in its seat in the sleeve 19 by tap bolts passing through the radial flange of said stuliing-boxfasusual.

Thus held the sleeve 19 and stuffing-box 20 permit the follower or stuffing gland 23 to be screwed inward to apply any desired amount of pressure tothe contained packing rings or members 21 land 22.

The pedestal or pillow block 2 and its cap or cover are cast hollow and lined with Babbitt metal, and the shaft 4 within the hollow pedestal, and passing through the" Babbitt metal lining, is provided with an adjustable thrust-sleeve 24, preferably of steel, one end of which is internally4 tapped to screw up'on a threaded section 25 of the shaft 4. 26 indicates an adjustable steel collar, also screwed upon the threaded section 25 of shaft 4, and bearing against an end of the adjustable thrust-sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 is first adjusted and locked by a set-screw 27, and thereafter the collar 26 is screwed firmly against it, the sleeve being enlarged at each end s`o as to take a bearing against the ends of the bearing portions of the journal box, thereby holding the shaft 4 against end play, and maintaining the rotor o'r impeller in proper plane and relation to the walls of its chamber.

The pedestal 3 is similarly cast hollow and in two parts, the cap' or cover section being removable but held in place by the usual tap-bolts or other fastenings. The shaft 4,

however, takes a direct bearing in the babbitt lining of the box; in other words, is not provided with the thrust-sleeve.l Both boxes are provided with hinged caps or covers closing lubricant-receiving openings, as is common in machinery of this class. Within each journal box and hung respectively upon the shaft 4 and upon the sleeve 24, is an yoil ring 28, respectively receiving motion from the shaft or from thesleeve. These rings carry up oil from the lower portion of the hollow pedestal or pillow block, and deliver it tothe shaft and the collar,- a space or channel being formed in the babbitt lining or at the upper side of the shaft to permit the oil to flow out laterally and be properly distributed over the journals.

Upon the frame or casting 1 and extending over the filling cup 18of hub or sleeve 16, is a removable cap 29which protectsthe filling cup and precludes injury to persons sulting in eating away the exposed portions of the pump, are primarily due to the action of acids, though as 1s well known various alkaline substances produce similar effects.

'It is hence desirable that the exposed parts be made of metals, alloys. or compounds which will resist both acid and alkaline action; or in other words, which shall resist corrosion however occasioned. tion is hence to be understood as contemplating corrosion resistant metals, alloys and compounds generally, selection to be made according to the particular class of matters handled in given cases, and whether the selected material be resistant to corrosion due to acids alone, alkalis alone, or to both acids and alkalis. ,l

Having thus described my invention what l claim is v 1. A pump of the impeller type, comprising a casing containing a volute chamber; a rotary impeller located within the volute chamber and having a concentric neck or hub projecting from one face; a sleeve encircling therimpeller neck, having a radial flange extending inwardly thereto, and held rigidly in position concentric with the axis of the impeller; a stuiling-box encircling the hub or neck ofthe impeller and extending into the sleeve; an externally threaded stuifing-box gland screwing into the correspondingly threaded open end of the stuffing-box; and alternate yielding and rigid packing rings interposed between the inner flange of the sleeve and the stuffing-box gland, and forming with said gland, stuffing-box and sleeve, a combined bearing and packing gland for the impeller neck or hub. y

2. A pump of the impeller type, comprising av casing containing a volute chamber; a rotary impeller located within the volute chamber and having a concentric neck or hub projecting Jfrom one face; a hollow sleeve encircling said hub or neck; a stuing-box extending into said sleeve and made fast to the impeller casing; a stuiiing-box gland entering the open end of the stufngbox; and alternate packing rings of metal and of compressible material respectively, both of acid-resistant character, interposed between the inner end of the sleeve and the Stufling-box gland, said parts constituting a The invencombined bearing and packing gland Jfor the impeller neck or hub.

3. n a pump of the character described. a vfolute chamber composed ot' two facing sections of corrosion-resistant material; a housing for the chamber sections: a rotary impeller lying within the volute chamber and having a concentric neck or hub projecting from one face; a hollow sleeve encircling said hub or neck; a stufiing-box extending linto said sleeve; a stuffing-box gland entering the o'pen end of the'stutling-box; and alternate yielding and rigid packing rings interposed between the inner end of the sleeve and the stuffing-box gland; the impeller ,and its neck, the sleeve and the solid packing rings being made of material of highly corrosion-resistant character.

4. In a pump of the character described. a main frame provided with pedestals containing shaftbearings and with a housing for the pump linings; a second housing spaced away from the first; corrosion-resistant linings interposed between said housings; a corrosion-resistant gasket interposed between the linings; means for drawing together the housings, linings and gasket; a rotary irnpeller lying between the lining members and provided with a concentric neck or hub; a sleeve encircling said neck or hub; a stuH- ing-box extending into said sleeve at its outer end; a. stuiing-box gland entering the outer end of the stuffing-box; alternate rigid andcompressible packing rings interposed between the inner end of the sleeve and the stuing-box gland; a shaft mounted in bearings in the pedestals, connected to and concentric with the impeller sleeve or hub; and a thrust-collar adj ustably mounted upon said shaft and serving to prevent end play thereof and of the impeller; the impeller` sleeve, and solid packing rings being formed of metal or alloy highly resistant to corrosion.

5. In combination with the housings 5 and 6, interposed linings 8 and 9, and gasket 12; an impeller 14 provided with a perforated hollow neck or hub 16 having a filling cup 18; a sleeve 19 having its inner end closely encircling the neck or hub 16; a corrosion-resistant packing 3() encircling) the sleeve and filling the eye of the lining' through which the sleeve passes; a stuingbox 20 extending into the sleeve; a stuihngbox gland 23 extending into the stuffing-box and forming a bearing for the neck or hub 16; and packing rings 21 and 22 vinterposed between the inner end of the sleeve 19 and the vstalling-box gland 23.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GUY H. ELMORE. 

